200 Series Shinkansen

200 series
Refurbished 200 series trainset, July 2008
In service	1982–Present
Manufacturer	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation
Constructed	1980–1986
Refurbishment	1999–2002
Number built	700 vehicles (66 sets)
Number in service	110 vehicles (11 sets) (as of 1 April 2010)
Number preserved	6 vehicles
Formation	10 cars per trainset (8, 12, 13, 16 cars in past)
Operator	JNR (1982–1987) JR East (1987–present)
Depot(s)	Niigata
Line(s) served	Tōhoku Shinkansen, Jōetsu Shinkansen, Gala-Yuzawa Line
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium
Car length	25,000 mm (82 ft 0 in)
Width	3,385 mm (11 ft 1.3 in)
Height	4,410 mm (14 ft 6 in)
Doors	Two per side
Maximum speed	240 km/h (149 mph) (275 km/h (171 mph) in past)
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC, 50 Hz, overhead catenary
Current collection method	Pantograph
Safety system(s)	ATC-2, DS-ATC
Gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

The 200 series (200系) is a Shinkansen high-speed train type introduced by Japan National Railways (JNR) for the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Jōetsu Shinkansen high-speed rail lines in Japan, and currently operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). They actually predate the 100 series trains, having been built between 1980 and 1986. It was one of the two recipients of the 23rd Laurel Prize presented by the Japan Railfan Club, the first Shinkansen type to receive that award.

Design

The 200 Series Shinkansen trains resemble the earlier 0 series trains in styling (some later units had the pointed 'shark nose' of the 100 series), but are lighter and more powerful, since these two lines are mountain routes and have steeper gradients. These lines are also prone to snowfall and the trains have small snowplows fitted, as well as protection of equipment against snow.

They were originally painted in ivory with a green window band and lower bodyside band, but a number of sets were refurbished and painted into a white-upper/dark blue-lower scheme with new wrap-around cab windows from 1999.

The first units were capable of 210 km/h (130 mph) but later ones can do 240 km/h (150 mph), and four were converted to be capable of 275 km/h (171 mph). Some units were also modified with retractable couplers in the nose for coupling with Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa and Akita Shinkansen Komachi Mini-shinkansen sets, but these are no longer in service. In addition, some of the later 200 series shinkansen trains were fitted with double-deck cars, which had semi-open standard-class compartments on the lower deck and green class (first class) seating on the upper deck. These too have been removed from service.

Withdrawal of the earlier units began in 1997, and the last remaining unrefurbished set was withdrawn in May 2007.

Variants

Since their introduction in 1982, the 200 series sets have been operated in a number of different formations as described below.

E sets (1982–1993)

12-car sets for Tōhoku Shinkansen Yamabiko and Aoba services, and for Jōetsu Shinkansen Asahi and Toki services. These had a maximum speed of 210 km/h, and remained in service until early 1993.

The 12-car E sets were formed as follows.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Designation	Mc	M'	M	M'	Mk	M'	Ms	M'	MB	M'	M	M'c
Numbering	221	226	225	226	225-400	226	215	226	237	226	225	222

F sets (1983–2007)

12-car set F19, March 2006

12-car set F8 on Gala-Yuzawa Line with pointed nose, January 2006

Modified set F80 on a Nagano Shinkansen Asama service, February 1998

12-car 200-1000 series sets with a maximum speed of 240 km/h (150 mph) which were introduced in November 1983.

From March 1990, four selected 12-car F sets (F90–F93, formerly F54, F59, F14, F16) were upgraded allowing them to run at a maximum of 275 km/h (171 mph) on a small number of down Asahi services. 275 km/h (171 mph) services were discontinued on the Jōetsu Shinkansen from 1998, with the introduction of E2 series trains, and the F90 sets were subsequently used interchangeably with other 240 km/h (150 mph) F sets.

Set F80 (formerly F17) was modified for use on additional Nagano Shinkansen Asama services in February 1998 during the 1998 Winter Olympics held in Nagano. The train remained in operation until 2004, used interchangeably with other F sets.

Some F sets are similar to the H sets in that the driving trailer cars were built with a pointed nose, just like the latter. These trains however, feature a solid green line unlike the H sets, where they have two green lines, one thick and one thin, separated by a thin white section near the bottom.

Formations

The 12-car F sets were formed as follows.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Designation	Mc	M'	M	M'	Mk	M'	M	M'	MB	M'	MS	M'c
Numbering	221	226	225	226	225-400	226-100	225	226	225	226	215	222

Cars 2, 4, 10, and 12 were equipped with cross-arm pantographs. (3, 5, 7, and 9 for sets F90-93)

Interior

• 

  Green car, January 2002

• 

  Standard-class car with fixed 3-abreast seating rows, January 2002

G sets (1987–1999)

8-car set G45 at Omiya, circa 1990

10-car, and later 8-car, sets formed from the earlier 12-car E sets, with a maximum speed of 210 km/h. These entered service from 18 April 1987.

Formations

The initial 10-car G sets were formed as follows.

Car No.	1	2	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Designation	Mc	M'	M4	M'	Ms	M'	MB	M'	M	M'c
Numbering	221	226	225-400	226	215	226	237	226	225	222

The 8-car G sets were formed as follows.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Designation	Mc	M'	M4	M'	Mhs	M'	MB	M'c
Numbering	221	226	225-400	226	215-300	226	237	222

Cars 2, 4, 6, and 8 were equipped with cross-arm pantographs. Some sets had an "Mpk" car (numbered 225-400) in place of the 237 buffet car for car 11.

H sets (1990–2005)

13-car set H5, circa 1990

16-car set H6 at Tokyo Station, June 2002

Six 13-car and later 16-car sets (H1–H6) with a maximum speed of 240 km/h for use on Yamabiko (nicknamed Super Yamabiko) services, incorporating two bilevel Green cars (cars 9 and 10) These sets entered service from 23 June 1990.

Regular operations using 16-car H sets ended from the start of the revised timetable on 13 March 2004, but sets H4 and H5 were reinstated as 12-car sets from the summer of 2004 for seasonal use with their Green cars removed. These two sets survived until mid-2005.

Formations

The initial 13-car H sets were formed as follows.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
Designation	Mc	M'	M	M'	Mk	M'	TsD	Ms	M'	MB	M'	M	M'c
Numbering	221	226	225	226	225-400	226	249	215	226	237	226	225	222

The 16-car H sets were formed as follows.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Designation	Mc	M'	M	M'	M	M'	Mk	M'	T'sD	TsD	MCON	M'	M	M'	M	M'c
Numbering	221-200	226-100	225	226-100	225	226	225-400	226-100	249	248	225-100	226-100	225-200	226-100	225	222-200
Seating capacity	50	95	80	95	80	95	70	95	67	40	70	95	68	95	80	55

Cars 2, 4, 8, 12, and 14 were equipped with cross-arm pantographs.

The 12-car H sets (H4 & H5) were formed as follows.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Designation	Mc	M'	M	M'	Mk	M'	M	M'	M	M'	Mcon	M'c
Numbering	221-200	226-100	225	226-100	225-400	226-100	225	226-100	225-200	226-100	225-100	222-200

Cars 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 were equipped with cross-arm pantographs.

K sets (1992– )

10-car set K24 on Asahi service, August 2002

Refurbished 10-car set K47 in "revival livery" with a sticker commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Tōhoku Shinkansen, June 2007

8-car and later 10-car sets with a maximum speed of 240 km/h modified with nose-end couplers to operate in conjunction with 400 series Yamagata Shinkansen sets and E3 series Akita Shinkansen sets.

The remaining sets in use on the Tōhoku Shinkansen are scheduled to be withdrawn from 19 November 2011, but 200 series sets will continue to be used on the Jōetsu Shinkansen.

Formations

The K sets are formed as follows.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Designation	Mc	M'	M	M'	M	M'	Mpk	M'	Ms	M'c
Numbering	221	226	225	226	225	226	225	226	215	222

Interior

• 

  Refurbished Green car, August 2002

• 

  Refurbished standard-class car, January 2002

Derailment

View of the derailed train several days after the earthquake

A refurbished 200 series train (set K25 on the Toki 325 service) derailed on the Jōetsu Shinkansen line while travelling at a speed of approximately 200 km/h between Nagaoka Station and Urasa Station on 23 October 2004 during the 2004 Chūetsu earthquake. Eight of the ten cars were derailed. This was the first derailment of a Shinkansen train in service. None of the 155 passengers on board was injured. Set K25 was officially withdrawn on 25 March 2005.

Preserved examples

Preserved car 221-1 at Sendai General Shinkansen Depot, July 2006

• 221-1 and 237-1 (ex-set E1, later F30) at Sendai General Shinkansen Depot
• 215-1, 222-1, 226-1 (all ex-set E1, later F30), and 249-5 (ex-set H5) stored outdoors at Sendai General Shinkansen Depot, but all cut up in 2010
• 215-15, 221-15 and 237-15 (ex-set E15, later F37) next to Nagareyama-Onsen Station on Hakodate Main Line
• 222-35 (ex-set K31) at The Railway Museum in Saitama, Saitama

See also

• List of high speed trains

References

• JR全車両ハンドブック2006 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2006]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2006. 
• Semmens, Peter (1997). High Speed in Japan: Shinkansen - The World's Busiest High-speed Railway. Sheffield, UK: Platform 5 Publishing. ISBN 1-872524-88-5. 
• Yamanouchi, Shūichirō (2002). 東北・上越新幹線 [Tōhoku & Jōetsu Shinkansen]. Tokyo, Japan: JTB Can Books. ISBN 4-533-04513-8. 

External links

• 200 Series Toki/Tanigawa (Japanese)